Electric multiple switch



Feb. 11, 1958 E. M. WAGSTAFF 2,323,271

ELECTRIC MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed 001.. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORW 55 Edwin M W oystaff ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1958 E. M. WAGSTAFF 2,

ELECTRIC MULTIPLE swncn Filed Oct. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORATTORNEY United States Patent ELECTRIC MULTIPLE SWITCH Edwin M.Wagstalf, Galion, Ohio Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,705

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-1) This invention relates to switches and inparticular to push-button multiple switches.

It is an object of this invention to provide a switch which will controla number of circuits simultaneously.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch that issimple and compact in construction and readily assembled.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a switch whicheliminates side motion thereby eliminating unnecessary wear and tear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch having a minimumof moving parts.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example variousembodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the switch broken away in part;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch broken away in part;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the switch;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lamp spring connecting member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing one of the separating members;

Figs. 6 and 7, Figs. 8 and 9 and Figs. 10 and 11 show plan views ofvarious forms of cooperating spring leaf contact members which may beused interchangeably with the cooperating spring leaf contact membersshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the switch comprises a transparent plastic plungerbutton 10 which is attached to a tubular plunger 11. The plunger 11 isslotted at one end as at 12 to provide spring fingers 13 which grip thebutton 10 and secure it rigidly to the plunger 11.

Plunger 11 is slideably mounted in an outer cylindrical tube 14 which issecured to a bracket member 15 by a welding or spinning or the likeoperation. A shoulder 16 on tube 15 provides a seat for the bracketmember 15. The bracket is of S-shaped construction and has a threadedopening 17 for receiving a screw or naiLfor mounting purposes.

An electric lamp 20 such as a Sylvania GOA-2 type bulb is inserted intoa socket 21. The socket 21 is carried by the plunger 11 and has a base22 limiting the depth of insertion of the socket 21 into the plunger 11.Contacts 23 and 24 are secured to opposite sides of a socket 21 andengage corresponding contacts on the lamp 20. Leads 25 and 26 run fromcontacts 23 and 24 through the base 22 of the socket 21. Contacts 23 and24 have gripping members 27 which prevent the lamp 20 from sliding fromthe socket.

Plunger 11 and tube 14 have cut outs 30 and 31 respectively which serveto keep the bulb cool and provide for circulation of air about the lamp20.

A slot 32 is provided in the side of plunger 11. A hole 33 in tube 14 isprovided in which a screw 35 is 2,823,271 Patented Feb. 11, 1958inserted which passes into the slot 32 limiting the travel of theplunger 11.

A series of insulators 40 having holes therein for receiving bolts 41and 42 are secured to bracket member 15. A back-up plate 43 maintainsconstant pressure on the insulators and prevents damage to the endinsulator. Lamp spring connecting members 44 and 45 are provided withholes H to receive the bolts 41 and 42. Insulating members 40 are placedbetween the lamp spring connecting members. The ends of lamp springconnecting members 44 and 45 are recessed to form fingers 46 whichreceive the ends of leads 25 and 26 respectively. The ends of the leadsmay be soldered or otherwise secured to the fingers 46.

Alternately spaced cooperating spring leaf contact members 47 and 48 aremounted upon the bolts 41 and 42 in a manner similar to lamp springconnecting members 44 and 45. The spring leaf contact members 48 eachhave two contact points 49 on one side and the spring leaf contactmembers 47 have two contact points 50 on each side.

Spring leaf contact members 47 have spacer insulating members 51 (Fig.5) secured thereto by a rivet 52 or the like. It is to be noted thatspacers 51 are cup-shaped. Spring leaf contact members 47 are movable.Spring leaf contact members 48 are stationary.

An insulating sleeve 53 is provided for insulating the bolts 41 and 42from the lamp spring connecting members 44, 45 and the cooperatingspring leaf contact members 47 and 48. Nuts 54 prevent dislocation ofthe bolt and contact assembly from the bracket 15.

Member 44, 45, 47 and 48 each have a hole 55 in a projecting finger 56in which may be inserted a circuit lead wire.

The stationary, that is, the non-movable pairs of con tact springs 48are relieved so that the spacers 51 do not engage therewith; i. e. themovable members 47 move freely without moving the stationary members 48.

Operation Referring to Fig. 2, as shown, the contact points 50 on theleft hand side of movable members 47 engage the contacts 49 on the righthand side of stationary members 48. When the plunger is depressed, theblades 47 move to the right with the plunger and contact is broken withthe aforementioned contacts and contact points 50 on the right hand sideof movable members 47 engage the contact points 50 on the left hand sideof stationary members 48.

Each of the stationary members 48 is provided with a slit or slot 60which allows for positive action during the contact operation.

Figs. 6 and 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and 11, show cooperating spring leafcontact members which may be interchanged with contact members 47 and48.

Fig. 6 shows a stationary contact arm centrally located on the base 71of member 70. A central opening 72 is provided to allow for clearance ofthe spacer 51. It is to be noted that the end of the contact member 70is slotted as at 73 in a manner similar to the slots shown in Fig. 3 ofcontact spring 47 except that in contact member 47, the end of themember makes a right angle turn. Fig. 7 shows the mating contact memberof Fig. 6, the central portion of this member has a small opening 81through which the rivet 52 of the spacer member 51 is passed. Arm 85 isdisposed centrally of base 81 of member 80.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a stationary contact member 100 and a movable contactmember which could be substituted for members 47 and 48. Members 90 andhave spring arms 94 and 95 and 104 and 105 respec.

tively extending in the same direction from the corners of bases 96 and106 respectively.

A tongue 92 is provided in member 90 havinga central opening 93 throughwhich the rivet-52 of spacer member 51 is passed.

Fig. 9 showing the cooperating member 100 which cooperateswith themember'90 shown in Fig; 8; is'slotted for the same purpose that contactmember=47 is slotted.

Figs. 10 and 11 show cooperating contact members 110-and 120- which' aresimilar to contact members 47 and 48--with the exception that thecontact members have only one point of contact'111'a-nd-121-respectively and in addition contact member 111' isnotslotted as iscontact member 47.

While the invention has been described" inconnection with severaldifferent embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capableof further modification, and th'isapplication is intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general,the principles of theinvention and including suchdepartures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having'thus described my-invention what I claim is:

-1. An electrical switchcomprising an S-shaped bracket, 21 tubularsleeveconnected to one leg of said S-shaped' bracket and substantiallyparallel to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a' plungermountedin said sleeve for reciprocation therein, a lamp and socket mounted insaid plunger, means-for limiting the travel of said plunger, a boltcorinected' to the other leg of said S-shaped bracket and having itsaxissubstantially parallel to the centerbar of said S-shaped bracket,stationary contact members and movable contact members alternatelyspaced and mounted up'on said bolt and extending in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt and intersectingthe axis of said plunger, insu-iators on said bolt separating saidmembers, a-spacer mounted on the inside of each of said movable members,said stationary members having clearance forsaid spacers, said spacer onsaid movable members extending through the plane of intervem'ngstationary members and normally abutting another movable member, and afirst spacer abutting said plunger, whereby operation of said. plungershifts said movable.

contact members linearly to breakcontact with one.

stationary member andmake contact with, another stationary member.

2. An electrical switch .comprisingan S-shaped bracket,

- a tubular sleeve connected to one .legof the S-shaped.

bracket, and substantially, parallel to the. center bar of said S-shapedbracket, a plunger mounted insaid sleeve. 7

for reciprocation therein, a .lamp; andlsocketwithin said plunger, aboltconnectedito the otherlegof said S-shaped bracket and having its axissubstantially parallel 'to the.

one stationary member and make .contact with another' stationary memberand a lamp connecting means-mounted on said bolt and connected to saidlamp socket for carrying current to said lamp.

3. An electrical switch comprising an S-shaped bracket, a tubular sleeveconnected to one leg of the S-shaped bracket and substantially parallelto the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a plunger mounted in saidsleeve for reciprocation therein, a lampandisocket mounted within saidplunger, a, bolt connectedto. the other ,leg of said shaped bracket andhaving its axis substantially parallel to the center bar of saidS-shaped bracket, stationary contact members and movable contact membersalternately spaced andmountedupon saidbolt-and extending in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt and intersectingthe axis of said plunger, insulators on said bolt separating saidmembers, a spacer mounted on the inside of each of said movable members,said stationary members having clearance for said spacers, said spaceron said movablemembersextending through'the plane of interveningstationary members and'normally abutting another'movab'le member, afirst spacer abutting said plunger,- whereby operation of said plungershifts-said movable contact members linearly to break contact with onestationary-member-and 'make contact with another stationary member, lampconnecting means mounted on said bolt," leads extending from'saidlampsocket and said conneetin-gmeans having'rec essed fingers on saidconnecting means for receiving said lampsocket leads.

4. An-electrical switch comprising an 'S-shaped bracket, a tubularsleeve connected to one leg of said S-shaped bracket and substantiallyparallel-to the center bar of said S-shaped bracket, a-plunger: mountedin said sleeve for reciprocation therein, a lamp and socket mounted insaid plunger, means forcoolingsaid lamp, means for limiting the travelofsaid'plunger, a bolt connected to the other leg of said S-shaped bracketand having its axis substantially' parallel tothe: center" bar of saidS-shaped bracket, stationary contact members and movable contact membersalternately-spaced and mounted upon said bolt andextending'in-aplanesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said bolt andintersecting the axis of said plunger; insulators on said boltseparating said members, a spacer mounted on the inside of each of saidmovable members said stationary members having clearance forsaidspacers, :saidspacer onsaid-movable members extendingthroughinterveningstationary members and normally abutting another movablemember, and a first spacer abutting said plunger, whereby operation ofsaid plunger shifts said movable contact members linearly tobrea'kcontact with one stationary-memberand make con- I tact-withanother sta'donary 'member;

References Cited ingthe ,file ofthis patent UNITED. l STATES PATENTS1,038,776: McLarn Sept. 17, 1912 1,781,962 Stirling Nov. 18, 19302,062,259 T-hornas Nov. 24, 1936 2,178,151 Wagar Oct. 31, 1939 2,279,811Baker Apr. 14, 1942 2,280,438 Matthews Apr. 21, 1942 2,295,301 Smithj--. Sept. 8, 1942 2,305,185. Merke l Dec. 15, 1942 2,321,834" Marcoetal June 15, 1943 2,571,068 Seiden' Oct. 9, 1951 2,586,992 Rapuano Feb.26, 1952 2,612,367 Blomqvist Sept. 30, 1952 2,612,597 'Sherrard v Sept.30, 1952' 2,665,352 Bellamy et a1 Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France.Sept. '30, 1953

